I’m not good at taking time off from writing unless I go somewhere. But I make myself take a break and before I dive into my next novel, which I’m about to write soon, I thought I’d blog about a few books I’ve read and and films I’ve seen.

Of course, you may not agree with my views – I woudn’t expect you to. It’s highly subjective, how we react to others’ creativity, although I’ll always respond with respect. But I love books and films, so I thought I’d share a few experiences with you.

Below are some recommendations.

Please note that I read a lot of books by people I know, writers from Boldwood Books, and I love some many of them. I have friends who write and I’m often blogging about their stuff.

But this isn’t the blog post about them. This is about others. Let me know what you think if you’ve dived in to the same book or film.

Books

In Love with Love – Ella Risbridger

I recommend this book so much to anyone who writes novels. To anyone at all. So many people are dismissive of romance novels as a genre because of some ill-conceived idea that they are frothy or predictable or light. But the author validates her favourite books with so much wit and energy. She’s well-read, funny and her author voice is perfect.  It feels like you’re chatting with a bubbly clever friend over a glass of something. Everyone should give this one a go. I loved every chapter. Highly recommended.

That Bonesetter Woman – Frances Quinn

I liked this book. This is the first one I’ve read by Frances, but she creates a lively historical story with a great central character called Endurance Proudfoot, who is clumsy and stubborn and wants desperately to be a female bonesetter like her father. She struggles against convention in a man’s world. She’s witty and tactless, and defies social expectations, which is refreshing and appealing. The writing is entertaining, and I’m a sucker for a historical novel with an unusual protagonist performing an interesting role. The story is well researched and nicely written. I’ll read more.

Vulture Capitalism: How to Survive in an Age of Corporate Greed Paperback – Grace Blakeley

This is an eye-opening, shudderingly scary book by a great journalist who lifts the lid on how capitalism is about corporate crime, backdoor bailouts and deliberately engineered profit. She suggests that free markets aren’t free at all. And the blindingly high record pro­fits don’t ever trickle down to everyone else. She tells it bluntly – we may think we have choices, but they’re made for us every day. This book really helps us to understand what’s happening in the world – and what we can do to change it. An important read.

Mr Warren’s War: A Life Fully Lived – Lord Ashley Phipps-Warren

This is a short story about the experiences of an old man who’s reflecting on his life. It’s beautifully written and I highly recommend it. It’s self-published and receiving so much acclaim. Grab a copy.

Weyward Emilia Hart

I was gifted a copy of this book by a friend, and I was fascinated because it’s in the same genre that I write. It’s about three different women, one in the present day escaping an abusive partner, one in the nineteen forties ralliying against family control, and a woman branded a witch in the 1600s. It’s beautifully written and the characters are well drawn. It has an earthy, witchy vibe, which is very strong throughout. There was a lot to admire about it, although some people might find the character Kate’s escape from abuse a little predictable. But it’s a good pacy read and I’d recommend it.

Five Movements of Existence and Other Muses. Tom Ewings.

This wee poetry book cost me 77p on Kindle. Get one. I’d pay ten times that to read Tom’s moving, breathtaking poems. They are powerful, unflinching and yet filled with hope. Read Mud. Read Why Don’t You Cry?’ Heartbreakingly beautiful. Grab a copy and support a new, innovative talent!

Films

Othello

I saw the livestream of Othello, from Theatre Royal Haymarket. I did try to get tickets to see the play, but I couldn’t remortgage my house in time. Seeing the film at the theatre was better than second best, though, as I had a front seat.  The play was fabulous. It was directed by Tom Morris, and for me he got the balance of characters absolutely right. I’ve seen the play so many times before with a histrionic Iago, but Toby Jones was so well balanced and realistic. He was excellent in the role, but he didn’t blow the other actors off the stage. David Harewood was superb in the title role as an ageing soldier full of self-doubt and blind jealousy because he was new to love and he had a string of complexes. For once, Desdemona had a backbone. Caitlin FitzGerald was feisty and strong, and she stood up to Othello when he was abusive. She even fought back when he murdered her, so well done to the director for making the play make absolute sense in a present context, despite the restrictions of the original obedient language – Desdemona can easily be portrayed as submissive, and she wasn’t.

I loved every second.

 Deliver me from Nowhere

This film is a 2025 biographical drama starring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen, focusing on the difficulties of his struggles with depression and how hard it was to create his raw 1982 album Nebraska. In all honesty, I’m not Bruce’s biggest fan, although his music is quite good and his politics impressive. His concert at Anfield was a blast, apparently. But I didn’t like the film much because it was hard to get an insight into the man himself, and I wasn’t able to empathise or like him much. He came across a bit moody and egotistical, but I suppose that’s the price you pay for being a gifted and misunderstood Alpha Male, which was how the character was interpreted. When someone said, ‘I know who you are,’ Bruce mumbled, ‘That’s more than I do.’ That line set the tone for the whole film.

 I felt a bit of sympathy because he was bullied as a child, but the ‘hard life’ strand seemed superficial. As you can tell, I think I’d like Bruce if I met him in person, but I didn’t like the character in the film much. It was an OK watch, but not great for me. The women were ‘also ran’ characters who put up with far too much abuse, which never gets my vote.

The Ballad of Wallis Island.

If you haven’t seen this film, don’t miss it. It’s such a feel good movie. It’s a comedy about an eccentric lottery winning millionaire music fan (Tim Key) who invites musician Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) to a remote Welsh island for a ridiculously lucrative one-off performance. Herb reunites with his former folk duo partner, Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan), and their past differences resurface. The story could have been predictable or whimsical, but it’s clever and thought provoking, with perfect twists and turns that avoid sentimentality. Great performances, great dialogue. Great scenery. Nice music. I loved it.

Choral

Any film with Ralph Fiennes in is wonderful, and Choral is no exception. It’s a “feel-good” wartime film with strong performances and mostly beautiful music (although the depiction of composer Edward Elgar played by Simon Russell Beale will annoy some music lovers.) It’s about a choral society set in Yorkshire when the men are away fighting. It’s written by Alan Bennett and is about the main character’s homosexuality, Germanophilia and atheism, so you can imagine just what it’s like. Enjoyable, well meaning and worth watching. Some people will love it because it’s a bit whimsical and some will hate it for the same reason.

I’m not Bennett’s biggest fan. There, I’ve said it. But then I’m a Fiennes fan. I first saw him on stage as Prospero in The Tempest and my jaw was on my knee from the moment he walked on stage. He’s a sublime actor, and for me he can take on any role from Heathcliff to Voldemort, from Coriolanus to the Cardinal in Conclave to Harry Waters in In Bruges and be amazing. The man is more than a talent, he’s a magical acting masterclass. Go and see the film just for him.